BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2135

By: Cortez

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Texas Private Security Board currently has statutory authority to enter into reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions and to issue licenses under the Private Security Act to individuals with credentials from other states under reciprocity arrangements. In an effort to boost employment for returning veterans, C.S.H.B. 2135 seeks to provide the board authority to waive any licensing prerequisite and to credit required experience to an individual with acceptable experience gained during service in the U.S. military.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Private Security Board in SECTIONS 2 and 3 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2135 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Private Security Board to adopt rules, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, under which the board may waive any prerequisite to obtaining a license for, and credit experience for a license requirement to, an individual who the board determines has acceptable experience gained during service in a branch of the U.S. military, including the U.S. Coast Guard.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2135 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 1702.1183, Occupations Code, is amended.	SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 2. Section 1702.1183, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) The board shall adopt rules under which the board may waive any prerequisites to obtaining a license and issue a license by reciprocity to an individual who the board determines holds a current, appropriate security credential from a branch of the United States armed forces, including the United States Coast Guard.	SECTION 2. Section 1702.1183, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (c) The board shall adopt rules under which the board may waive any prerequisite to obtaining a license for, and credit experience for a license requirement to, an individual who the board determines has acceptable experience gained during service in a branch of the United States armed forces, including the United States Coast Guard.
SECTION 3. The Texas Private Security Board shall adopt rules to implement Section 1702.1183(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.	SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.